Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-15
MERCHANTS TAXES.
COMPLAINTS or orpRsssroS BY TEE
cnYAHo srArf.



Board Of Directors OF the Chamber OF
Commerce was held yesterday evening.
Present: George A. Ainslie, president;
George l.. Christian, second viec-presi-
dent; Henry Bodeker, n. W. Bowe,
A. H. Christian. Jr., N. ID. Hsrgrove,
g. II. Hawes, X. X. Williams, j. H..
WhAty.
Excuses were offered for the absence
ofs.Messrs. Dunlop, Cringan, Cottrell,
Drewry, Montague, and Starke.
Mr.. Williams, from the Committee
on Outward Trade, submitted q par
iial report as 10 the publication of the
Wig supplement OF February 26th,
containing an elaborate article on the
James-Riyer Improvement, and the
subject was continued in the hands OF
the committee.
Mr.. Lodeker, from the Committee
on Finance, made partial report as
TO the Chamber being represented in
the Permanent Exposition at Wash
ingtdn. Continued.
NEW COMMITTEES.
IN accordance with the new consti-
tuition and bylaws the Chair announced
the two following new standing com
mittees:
Committee on Information and Ste
tistics: r. III. Whitlock (chairman), ].
b. Cary. J. Aston Cabell, p. H. Mayo,
Robert W. Powers.
Committee on Business Enterprises:
n. w. Bowe (chairman). /. s. Tower.
J. Thompson Brown, F. S. Myer, A.
Bargamin.
STATE TAXATION OF MaRCHANrs.
A communication was received from
the Chamber of Commerce of Stanton
setting forth a preamble and the fol-
lowing resolutions
Rcsoycod, I. That it is the opinion
of the Chamber of Commerce OF
Staunton that the present system of
taxing merchants on the basis OF their
purchases should, by the Legislature at
It's present session, be substituted by
system of taxation based upon the
actual amount of capital invested in
trade by the merchant.
2. That we ask the active cooperation
of the chambers OF commerce and
boards OF trade and merchants gene
rally throughout the State in urging
upon the General Assembly the necessi-
ty of such legislation during its present
session.
Referred to the Committee on In
formation and Statistics, to report as
early as convenient.
CITY TAXATION AND MERCHANTS.
Mr.. Williams offered the following,
which was adopted under suspension
of the rules:
Whereas the recent Interpretation OF
the law for the assessment OF city taxes
on the merchants Of this city is, in the
opinion of said merchants, wrong, and
will be burdeDsome andsoppressiye if
carried out as thus interpreted there
fore -. ff -
Rcsolced, ]. That in the opinion of
this Chamber the ordinance of the city
making said assessments shonld either
he changed or such steps should be
taken ss will secure that Interpretation
of said ordinance under which assess
mentsof such taxes have been hereto
fore made.
Resoiyed, 2. That a committee of
three be appointed by the Chair to pre-
sent, withthe committee of merchants,
the views of this Chamber on this
question to the Committee on Finance
of the City Council.
The Chair appointed the following
committee (Mr. Williams asking to be
excused from serving) R. A. Dunlop
(chairmsn), A. II. Christian, Jr, and
$. II. Hawos.
THE DUNLOP RESOLUTIONS.
President Ainslie lail before the
Board communication from the Grain
and Cotton Exchange endorsing the
Chambers resolution demanding of
Congress regular and continuous appro-
priations for river-and-harbor improve
ment. Filed.
NEW MEMBERS.
President Ainslie proposed the fol-
lowing new members, who we're elect
ed : Julien Binford, George |. Thomas,
w. Montague Bliss, George S. Vashon
& Son, Meredith 4 Cooke, Sutton &
Co., John X. Molloy, M. Hessberg,
w. Nicholas Redford, J. p. George, F.
NJ. Boykin, and Thomas Barry.
Adjourned.